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After reaching the semifinals of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Morocco and Egypt will be hoping to emulate their African brothers
As the Paris 2024 Olympics reaches the business end, there is reason for fans of African football to rejoice as Egypt and Morocco both secured their spots in the men's semi-finals.
The Pharaohs returned to the semi-finals after a 60-year wait, while Morocco reached this stage for the first time.
Morocco's historic semi-final run
Morocco made history by reaching the Olympic men's football semi-finals for the first time with a stunning 4-0 victory over the United States at the Parc des Princes.
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This dominant performance included two penalties and was driven by a team effort that saw Morocco take control from the start.
Soufiane Rahimi opened the scoring with a penalty in the 29th minute, his fifth goal of the tournament before Ilias Akhomach doubled the lead with a close-range finish, followed by Achraf Hakimi's brilliant solo run to make it 3-0.
Substitute Mehdi Maouhoub sealed the win with another penalty in stoppage time after a VAR review for handball.
Morocco now prepares to face Spain, who defeated Japan 3-0, in the semi-finals.
Egypt's first semi-final in 60 years
Egypt also reached the semi-finals of the Olympic football tournament for the first time in 60 years after The Pharaohs came from behind to beat Paraguay on penalties at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille.
The match against Paraguay saw few risks taken, with both sides cautious in their approach but Egypt missed a significant chance when Mahmoud Saber failed to score one-on-one against the Paraguay goalkeeper.
Paraguay took the lead in the 71st minute, but Egypt responded in the 88th minute with a header from Ibrahim Adel, sending the match into extra time and eventually to penalties.
Egypt's goalkeeper Hamza Alaa made a crucial save from Marcelo Perez in the shootout, allowing Adel to score the winning penalty and secure Egypt's place in the semi-finals, where they will face either France or Argentina.
As these teams vie for Olympic glory, it's worth looking back at the African teams that have previously captured the coveted Olympic gold in football.
Africa's Olympic football gold medalists
While Africa is still chasing its first FIFA World Cup triumph, the continent has a rich history of success in the Olympic Football Tournament.
Nigeria’s fairytale success in 1996
Nigeria's journey to Olympic gold in Atlanta 1996 is a storied one. Led by captain Nwankwo Kanu, who had recently won the UEFA Champions League with Ajax, Nigeria entered the tournament with high hopes.
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The team, featuring stars like Jay-Jay Okocha and Celestine Babayaro, overcame significant challenges to make history. After navigating the group stage, they faced Mexico in the quarter-finals, winning despite both teams being reduced to ten men.
In the semi-finals, Nigeria faced a Brazil team led by a young Ronaldo. Down 3-1 at halftime, Nigeria made a remarkable comeback, with Kanu scoring the equaliser in the 90th minute and the golden goal in extra time.
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In the final against Argentina, Emmanuel Amunike's last-minute goal secured a 3-2 victory, making Nigeria the first African team to win Olympic gold in football.
Cameroon's inspired triumph in 2000
At the Sydney 2000 Olympics, Cameroon followed in Nigeria's footsteps with a memorable run to the gold medal. The team, featuring a young Samuel Eto'o, started their campaign with a win over Kuwait and draws against the Czech Republic and the USA.
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In the knockout stage, Cameroon defeated Brazil with a golden goal from Modeste M'bami and then overcame Chile in the semi-finals.
The final against Spain was a thrilling encounter in front of over 100,000 fans. Cameroon came back from a 2-0 deficit, with Eto'o scoring the equaliser.
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The match went to penalties, where Cameroon was flawless, securing their place in history with a second consecutive Olympic gold for Africa.
As Egypt and Morocco aim for glory at Paris 2024, they follow in the footsteps of these iconic teams, hoping to add another chapter to Africa's proud Olympic football history.
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